Method and apparatus for loading a water vessel



March 29, 1960 MATHE|5EL 2,930,495

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING A WATER VESSEL Filed Feb. 4, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

ENTOR RUDOLPH A. m fi-I EISEL I} BY 70%..

ATTORNEYS March 29, 1960 R. A. MATHEISEL 2,939,495

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING A WATER VESSEL Filed Feb. 4, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 1.; FIG. 2 29 INVENTOR RUDOLPH A. MAT/'lE/SEL I I!ATTORNEYS United States Patent 6 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING AWATER VESSEL Rudolph A. Matheisel, Baltimore, Md.

Application February 4, 1958, Serial No. 722,112

(Filed under Rule 47(b) and 35 U.S.C. 118) '4 Claims. (Cl. 214-15);

The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for loading awater vessel and more particularly to a method of and apparatus forloading a water vessel through a top hatch.

In smaller water vessels such as seaplanes, a serious problem arises asto how to load them when afloat. A seaplane could carry its own loadingapparatus; however, detrimental weight would be added which would affectthe seaplanes flying performance. It is known that a loading cranemounted on a barge can be used to load a seaplane but frequent damageresults to the seaplanes structure by the collision of the barge withthe seaplane during rough seas.

In the present invention, the disadvantages of the loading systemsdescribed above are overcome'by providing a loading apparatus which isnot carried by the seaplane but the apparatus is floated out to theseaplane and directly secured thereto. The loading apparatus comprises amast having a loading crane rotatably mounted on one end and a ballasttank fixed to the other end. A pivotal connection is provided onapproximately the center of the mast to allow the mast to be pivotallysecured to the seaplane. The ballast tank is flooded with sea water andthe crane is self-rotated about the pivotal connection into a verticalposition for loading through the top hatch of the seaplane. In thismanner, the loading apparatus moves up and down with the seaplane thusavoiding any possible damage to the structure of the seaplane as aresult of rough seas.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a method of andapparatus for loading a water vessel while afloat which will not adddetrimental weight to the vessel when it is not being loaded.

Another object is to provide a method of and apparatus for loading awater vessel while afloat which avoids any damage to the structure ofthe vessel from the loading apparatus during rough seas.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus forloading a water vessel while'afloat which has a minimum number ofelements and is simple and inexpensive to produce.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of anapparatus for loading a water vessel while afloat which is pivotallyattached to the vessel'and is selferecting into a loading position.

A final object is to provide a method of loading a water vessel whileafloat which requires a minimum amount of time and only a small workforce.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the loading apparatus of the presentinvention is a horizontal position and attached to a seaplane.

Fig. 2 illustrates a front elevation view of the loading apparatus ofFig. 1 in a vertical position and attached to the seaplane.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of Fig. 2 with the for ward part of theseaplane removed.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts through- 5 out the several views,there is shown in Fig. 1 the loading apparatus 10 in a horizontal,towing position and pivotally attached to a seaplane 11 by a pivotalconnection 12. The loading apparatus 10 comprises a mast 13 having aballast tank 14 fixed on one end and a boom 15 rotatably mounted on theother end. A float tank 16 is provided to support the boom end of themast 13 during floating and towing operations. The tank 16 has a yoke 17fixed to its upper surface to receive the mast 13 in the horizontalposition shown in Fig. l. a

A self-propelled barge 18 is used to tow the loading apparatus 10 whichis floatingly supported on tanks 14 and 16 to the seaplane 11. The barge18 approaches the seaplane 11 in the direction shown by the arrow inFig. 1.

Referring to the mast, a collar 19 is fixed thereto at approximately itscenter. Collar 19 has a pintle 21 fixed thereto which is one-half of thepivotal connection 12. The other half of the pivotal connection 12 is afitting 22 which is mounted on the side of the seaplane 11 and receivesthe pintle 21 when the apparatus 10 is towed into the position shown inFig. 1. Locking means, such as guy wires 23 and 24, are provided on theseaplane 11 to lock the pintle 21 into pivotal engagement with thefitting 22.

After the pintle 21 is positioned in the fitting 22, guy wires 25 and 26on the seaplane 11 are fixed in a taut relation to the tank 16. A guywire 27 is fixed at one end to the seaplane 11 and is fixed at its otherend to the boom end of the mast 13 in the horizontal position shown inFig. 1. Wire 27 has slack therein for a purpose to be discussedhereinafter.

The upper surface 28 of the ballast tank 14 which is fixed on one end ofthe mast 13 has an air valve 29 (see Fig. 2) mounted thereon. A watervalve 31 is provided on the under surface 32 of the tank 14. An air line33 and a Water line 34 are connected from the valves 29 and 31,respectively, to a remote control box 35 mounted on the mast 13. Acompressed air line (not shown) from the seaplane is connected to thecontrol box 35 to supply compressed air to the air line 33 when needed.By means of the water valve 31 and air valve 29, the ballast tank 14 canbe flooded with water 36 to sink the ballast tank end of the mast 13 orthe water 36 can be blown out by the compressed air through the airvalve 29 to allow the tank 14 to become buoyant and rise to the surfaceof the water. An air vent 37 is provided on the upper surface 28 of thetank 14 to allow the air within the tank 14 to exhaust as the water 36rises in the tank 14.

It is thus seen that to rotate the mast 13 from the horizontal positionshown in Fig. 1 to the vertical position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, theballast tank 14 need only be flooded with water to unbalance the mastand cause it to rotate about the pivotal connection 12 in acounterclockwise direction, when looking at Fig. 3. The guy wire '27 isof such a length that the boom end of the mast 13 can only rotate aboutthe connection 12 until the mast 13 is in a vertical position, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3, and the wire 27 is taut. In this position a support 40is fastened between the mast 13 and eaplane 11 to help maintain it in avertical position.

The boom 15 is rotated on the mast 13 by a motor and suitable gearing 38mounted on the end of the mast 13. The motor 38 is controlled by pushbuttons 39 suspended by cable 41. The boom 15 has pulleys 42 and 43mounted on the under side thereof. A motorized winch 44 is fixed on themast 13 and has one end of a cable 45 fastened thereto. The other end ofthe cable 45 passes over pulleys 42 and 43, supports a pulley hook 46,

3 1 andis attached to the end of the boom 15 at 47. The motorized winch44 is controlled by push buttons 48 suspended by cable 49. Power is.supplied to the motorized winch: 44-. by;,;the;seaplaneis auxiliarypower via the cable 51. U

As :bestshown in Fig. 2, the boom 15 i can "be rotated so .as-ltoiloadstores througlna tophatch '52 inithe. sea:

plane' llaor -can berotatedto; the dotted ,lineposition showmxtopicks-up rstoresfromra ship, barge or the.like..

It is readily.v seen thatiby a relativelyusimple means .of

attachingw thermast-13;to?.the seaplane nthere is little chance ofdamage to the. structure of the seaplane when the "water becomes rough:

The mastsmay bezlocated and erected at anyone of nection fixed to anintermediate partvof said mast for at-.

tachment to said water vessel, saidmast being normally positionedhorizontally adjacent a side of said, vessel and. .7

fastenedto the vessel :by said connection, a ballast tanks. fixed.onnone end of. said mast,.means;mounted-on the other end of said mastfor liftingstores; means connected to said ballast tank for admittingpressurized gases into.

said ballast tank, means connected to said ballast tankv for admittingand exhausting water into and from said ballast tank, and vent meansconnected to said ballast tank, whereby upon entry of water into saidtank, said tank sinks into the water and causes said mast to rotateabout said pivotal connection-ito'a vertical, operative position. 1 2.The mast of claim 1 and further comprising a pin rality of guy wires forholding said mast in taut vertical position adjacentsaid :water vessela.

3.'The mast of :claim 2, \.wherein said lifting means isrotatably'mounted on said other end of said mast, and meansmounted-on.rsaidf'mastfor s-Iotatingsaid lifting means.

4. The method ofloading-a water vessel having a top hatch comprising thesteps of: floating a mast having a lifting means. and'a balanced ballaston its respective ex:

tremities to .said water "vessel, 'pivotally. connecting said.v

mastat its center tosaid vessel, flooding said ballast and therebyrotating said lifting means to a vertical operative positionandsecuringsaid mastin-a taut attitude adjecent said vessel.

Adams Dec. 8,11953

